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Double trouble! Concomitant distal ulna fractures predict worse 1-year outcome in distal radius fractures : a registry-based cohort study of 5,536 patients

Arvidsson, Linnea LU ; Landgren, Marcus LU ; Harding, Anna Kajsa LU ; Abramo, Antonio LU and Tägil, Magnus LU (2025) In Acta Orthopaedica 96. p.606-611
Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data on distal radius fractures (DRFs) with concomitant metaphyseal distal ulna fractures is limited. We aimed to determine whether a combined DRF and distal ulna fracture (DRUF) predicts a worse patient-reported outcome, measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, 1 year after injury.

METHODS: This prospective registry-based cohort study included 5,536 adult patients with a DRF between 2003 and 2018. The 1-year DASH scores were recorded. All DRUFs were identified. Multivariable binary logistic regression assessed whether the presence of a distal ulna fracture predicted a 1-year DASH score > 35, indicating severe upper-extremity symptoms.

RESULTS: 259 of 5,536 patients... (More)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data on distal radius fractures (DRFs) with concomitant metaphyseal distal ulna fractures is limited. We aimed to determine whether a combined DRF and distal ulna fracture (DRUF) predicts a worse patient-reported outcome, measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, 1 year after injury.

METHODS: This prospective registry-based cohort study included 5,536 adult patients with a DRF between 2003 and 2018. The 1-year DASH scores were recorded. All DRUFs were identified. Multivariable binary logistic regression assessed whether the presence of a distal ulna fracture predicted a 1-year DASH score > 35, indicating severe upper-extremity symptoms.

RESULTS: 259 of 5,536 patients (4.7%) had a DRUF. Their mean age was 73 years (SD 15), and 86% were women. The median 1-year DASH score was higher in the combined fracture group compared with those with a DRF only (23, interquartile range [IQR] 5-45] vs 9, IQR 2-27, P < 0.001). A DRUF increased the odds of a 1-year DASH > 35 by 97% (OR 1.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-2.75, P < 0.001). Surgical fixation of the DRF in DRUF patients was associated with lower odds of a worse outcome (OR 0.44, CI 0.23-0.85, P = 0.02). Distal ulna fracture fixation did not affect 1-year DASH (P = 0.7).

CONCLUSION: The odds of having a DASH > 35, indicating severe symptoms, almost doubled at 1 year in patients with a DRUF compared with those with a DRF only.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Orthopaedica
volume
96
pages
606 - 611
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:40814979
ISSN
1745-3682
DOI
10.2340/17453674.2025.44352
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1fb9aecb-b753-47e0-aaa8-8a80506f95b8
date added to LUP
2025-08-18 11:26:28
date last changed
2025-08-18 11:28:01
@article{1fb9aecb-b753-47e0-aaa8-8a80506f95b8,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data on distal radius fractures (DRFs) with concomitant metaphyseal distal ulna fractures is limited. We aimed to determine whether a combined DRF and distal ulna fracture (DRUF) predicts a worse patient-reported outcome, measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, 1 year after injury.</p><p>METHODS: This prospective registry-based cohort study included 5,536 adult patients with a DRF between 2003 and 2018. The 1-year DASH scores were recorded. All DRUFs were identified. Multivariable binary logistic regression assessed whether the presence of a distal ulna fracture predicted a 1-year DASH score &gt; 35, indicating severe upper-extremity symptoms.</p><p>RESULTS: 259 of 5,536 patients (4.7%) had a DRUF. Their mean age was 73 years (SD 15), and 86% were women. The median 1-year DASH score was higher in the combined fracture group compared with those with a DRF only (23, interquartile range [IQR] 5-45] vs 9, IQR 2-27, P &lt; 0.001). A DRUF increased the odds of a 1-year DASH &gt; 35 by 97% (OR 1.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-2.75, P &lt; 0.001). Surgical fixation of the DRF in DRUF patients was associated with lower odds of a worse outcome (OR 0.44, CI 0.23-0.85, P = 0.02). Distal ulna fracture fixation did not affect 1-year DASH (P = 0.7).</p><p>CONCLUSION: The odds of having a DASH &gt; 35, indicating severe symptoms, almost doubled at 1 year in patients with a DRUF compared with those with a DRF only.</p>}},
  author       = {{Arvidsson, Linnea and Landgren, Marcus and Harding, Anna Kajsa and Abramo, Antonio and Tägil, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{1745-3682}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  pages        = {{606--611}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Orthopaedica}},
  title        = {{Double trouble! Concomitant distal ulna fractures predict worse 1-year outcome in distal radius fractures : a registry-based cohort study of 5,536 patients}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2025.44352}},
  doi          = {{10.2340/17453674.2025.44352}},
  volume       = {{96}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}